Author Archives: alibrarylady

2025 Read for Empathy Collection Launch

Today Empathy Lab launches the 2025 Read for Empathy collection of books for 3-16-year-olds, alongside calling for empathy and emotional skills to be prioritised. Now in its 9th year, this unique list of 70 titles for children and young people aged … Continue reading

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Pick of the New Children’s Books for February

An animal whodunit for new readers, entertaining little witches on a mission, dragons and danger, exploring life on the Moon and a ghostly visitor in the fog feature in my selection of books for children this month. Gruff Justice by … Continue reading

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Reading Matters – Children’s Book News

Hello and welcome to this month’s round up of what has been happening in the world of children’s books. With January behind us many are looking forward to discovering what February holds in the way of new books to enjoy. … Continue reading

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Blog Tour: All Brains Are Wonderful written by Scott Evans, illustrated by The Boy Fitz Hammond with Expert Consultant Dr. Rachel Williams

B Small Publishing have for some time been one of my favourite publishers. As a small indpendent publisher they specialise in creative, educational titles with high child appeal and their information books encourage their readers to discover new things. When … Continue reading

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Engaging Books for Independent Young Readers

When children first show an indication that they are ready to progress on to slightly longer independent reads they can still find pages of dense text a little daunting. Thankfully there has been a growth in highly illustrated quality fiction … Continue reading

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The Great Theatre Rescue by Judith Eagle

One of the joys of reading books written for children is being transported back to one’s own childhood and the luxury of escaping to a world where good triumphs against the odds, characters grow in confidence, and everything comes together … Continue reading

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Exploring Nature: Children’s Picture Books for Budding Bee Lovers

At the moment in the depths of January, when the evenings are still dark and snow has been falling in parts of the country it is difficult to imagine Spring, sunshine and spending time planting, sowing and encouraging summer insects. … Continue reading

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Discover Scallywag Press: New Picture Books for Children

Scallywag Press now five years old, is a small publisher whose books are worth seeking out. They specialise in publishing talented newcomers and re-issues of established creators and classics. Here are three of their recently published picture books to give you … Continue reading

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My Name is Samim by Fidan Meikle

My Name is Samim is a powerful, at times heartbreaking, debut novel by Fidan Meikle, an Azerbaijani-British writer, linguist and translator. Meikle tells the story of a thirteen year old boy from Afghanistan who is fleeing his home after the … Continue reading

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Reading Matters – Children’s Book News

Welcome to the first Reading Matters newsletter of 2025 and I hope that everyone had a happy and healthy Christmas holiday. Happy New Year to you and I hope that 2025 is a good year for you and your families. … Continue reading

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